Chapter 548 - 548: Untitled
Chapter 548: Untitled
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Eunuch Cheng went outside the Imperial Study to convey the Empress Dowager’s decree.
Eunuch Fu followed Emperor Jing Xuan back to the bedroom. The person guarding Xiao Zhonghua was Eunuch Quan.
Eunuch Quan held the horsetail whisk and said politely to Eunuch Cheng, “I don’t dare to let go of His Majesty’s decree…”
Eunuch Cheng snorted. “Is the Empress Dowager’s decree useless?”
Eunuch Quan smiled. “That’s not what I meant… In the palace, ultimately… His Majesty has the final say.”
“Eunuch Quan, remember what you said today.” With that, Eunuch Cheng said to the eunuch behind him, “Help the Third Prince to the Yong Shou Palace!”
Eunuch Quan wanted to stop him, but he was stopped by a few powerful eunuchs.
Looking at Eunuch Cheng take him away, Eunuch Quan spat. “Pfft! Who do you think you are! You took chicken feathers as a command arrow and scattered them on your Grandpa Quants head! When your Grandpa Quan becomes the head of the Tinperial Household later. von will suffer!”
Xiao Zhonghua was brought to the Empress Dowager’s palace. He was drenched and knelt in front of the Empress Dowager in a sorry state. Halfway through, he collapsed.
Eunuch Cheng quickly touched his forehead. “It’s so hot!”
Although it was summer, his body could not withstand the rain for so long. Moreover, Xiao Zhonghua’s body was not made of iron.
He fell into an ice hole when he was five years old and had been weak ever since. His body was inferior to those of the other princes.
“I’ll invite an imperial physician,” Eunuch Cheng said.
The Empress Dowager looked at the pale Xiao Zhonghua and sighed. “Call that girl into the palace.”
“Yes.”
About an hour later, Su Xiaoxiao appeared in the Yong Shou Palace with the medicine box.
Xiao Zhonghua was already awake and had changed his clothes. However, he was hot and felt a little dizzy.
Su Xiaoxiao took his pulse and listened to his heartbeat.
“A cold,” she said.
Xiao Zhonghua smiled weakly. “Sorry to trouble you to make a trip so late at night. ”
Su Xiaoxiao put down her stethoscope. “Yes, it’s quite troublesome. Get well quickly, lest I have to run to the palace every day.”
Xiao Zhonghua smiled. “Okay.”
Su Xiaoxiao prescribed a prescription, and Eunuch Cheng went to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine.
This medicine also had the effect of calming one’s mind. After Xiao Zhonghua drank it, he quickly closed his eyes and fell asleep.
“Miss Su, the Empress Dowager invites you over,” Eunuch Cheng said softly.
“Oh, okay.” Su Xiaoxiao raised her hand and tested the temperature of Xiao Zhonghua’s forehead. He was sweating and his temperature was lowered. “Change his clothes later.”
Eunuch Cheng agreed.
Su Xiaoxiao finished packing the first aid kit and turned to leave.
Xiao Zhonghua slowly opened his eyes and watched her leave the room.
The Empress Dowager set up a chess game in the room.
“Come over and play a game of chess with me.”
Su Xiaoxiao walked over and Eunuch Cheng took the first aid kit for her.
She sat down on the futon opposite the Empress Dowager.
The empress dowager used white pieces, while Su Xiaoxiao used black pieces.
She picked up a chess piece and placed it in the middle.
The golden horn and silver skin were like grass. Most people took the first step on the horn, but she always started in the center.
This seemed to have become a habit of hers.
The Empress Dowager placed a white piece and sighed. “How’s Third Brother?”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “His Highness is fine. He just has to remember not to overwork himself. ”
The Empress Dowager said calmly, “His body is not as good as those of Eldest
Brother and Second Brother, but in terms of brains, Eldest Brother and Second Brother combined are not as good as him. Eldest Brother was tricked by him, right?”
Su Xiaoxiao said calmly, “The willing just took the bait.”
The Empress Dowager glanced at her. “Are you standing on Third Brother’s side?”
Su Xiaoxiao said truthfully, “I’m not standing on anyone’s side, but compared to the Third Prince, I really don’t like the First Prince.”
Su Xiaoxiao said calmly, “The Empress Dowager is not an outsider.”
The Empress Dowager said, “Alright, don’t pretend to be obedient in front of me.”
At the Empress Dowager’s age, what could she not see through? The battle for the throne had already happened once in her son’s generation. Now that her grandchildren had grown up, a new cohort of siblings was about to fight.
She had failed to stop her son back then, and she could not stop her grandchildren now.
The Empress Dowager placed a piece down. “I don’t understand why he doesn’t like Third Brother. Third Brother clearly resembles him the most.”
On the surface, Emperor Jing Xuan was good to Xiao Zhonghua and even gave him the marriage with the Protector Duke’s daughter. However, that was because Xiao Zhonghua was the only prince of the right age with Qin Yanran. Emperor Jing Xuan had no choice.
Su Xiaoxiao placed another piece. “Perhaps His Majesty hates his former self.” The human heart was very complicated. Good and evil existed.
While Emperor Jing Xuan enjoyed the throne, he hated himself for being unscrupulous in obtaining his power, but he was unwilling to admit this fact. Therefore, he projected all his dissatisfaction with himself on a son who was most like him.
The Empress Dowager sighed and said no more.
After leaving Yongshou Palace, Su Xiaoxiao saw Princess Hui An alone on a tree -lined path.
She was wearing a blue and white palace dress. Her hair was tied into a princess’s bun. Her eyes were red, and there were tears on her palm-sized face.
She was like a begonia blooming in the night rain. She was extremely beautiful, but also extremely fragile.
Su Xiaoxiao paused and walked towards her.
Princess Hui An’s tears finally fell.
There was no wailing, but a sense of fragmentation assaulted her.
“Princess Hui An,” Su Xiaoxiao said.
Princess Hui An choked and said, “They said… my third brother made my father fall sick from anger…’
Princess Jingning did not have a brother, but she had the Eight Characters of the Kingdom. She did not seem to have to worry about who would become the new ruler. However, Princess Hui An’s fate was tightly tied to Xiao Zhonghua’s.
With someone doting on her, she was a carefree princess. Once she lost her power, she would fall into the hands of the royal family.
She would be betrothed to anyone who could bring benefits to the royal family. Perhaps it would be an old man or a widower with strange habits. She might even marry far away and be unable to return to her hometown for the rest of her life.
“I went to see Father just now… They stopped me from entering… I want to see
Third Brother… Mother doesn’t want me to go either…”
She cried. “Does Father not want Third Brother and me anymore…” “No,” Su Xiaoxiao said. “Your father still needs your third brother.” It did not matter if a person was not liked. It was fine as long as he was valuable.
Princess Hui An looked at Su Xiaoxiao and asked with a sobbing tone, “How did you know? Did my grandmother tell you?”
Su Xiaoxiao said softly, ‘Yes, the Empress Dowager told me.”
“Then, that should be true.”
She wiped her tears and raised her chin. In an instant, she returned to her demeanor of being smug. “I didn’t lose favor. I can still protect you in the future!”
With that, she reached out to Su Xiaoxiao. “Help me back to Qi Xiang Palace.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Taozhi hurried over.
“Princess Jingning said that you haven’t done your homework well these few days and have to train more. You’ll stay in Kunning Palace for the next few days. She’ll let you back to Qi Xiang Palace when she’s satisfied with your training..”